Rec pioneers 100% nylon recycling with new industrial facility in Burgundy.

Based in Auxerre, the company Ecollant, now operating under the new name Rec., has developed an innovative process to recycle 100% of the polyamide found in textiles. As part of its strategic shift, the Burgundy-based company is expanding its recycling capabilities beyond its initial focus on tights to encompass a wider range of items, including sportswear, lingerie, and swimwear. This transformation aligns with its objective to establish an industrial demonstrator by 2026.

Co-founded by Laurent Trognon and Frédéric Austrui, Rec's technology enables the recovery of nylon from textiles, yielding a material with properties identical to virgin polyamide. According to operations director Agathe Rouzaud, while many companies can recycle nylon, Rec’s distinct advantage lies in its ability to achieve the high level of purity necessary to produce robust, high-quality yarns suitable for industrial application. This technological edge is central to its industrial strategy.

To scale operations, Rec has secured a 1,800 square-meter facility in Joigny. The initial phase at this site will create 17 jobs and aims to produce 100 tonnes of recycled nylon annually. A second, larger site is already planned for approximately 2030, which will increase capacity significantly, employing about 30 people and producing up to 20,000 tonnes of material per year.

Rec has successfully secured its feedstock supply through partnerships with collection specialists and hotel chains. While initially concentrating on tights due to their high polyamide content, the company is now broadening its scope to include products composed of at least 70% nylon. Frédéric Austrui confirms that Rec already has a substantial stock of 100 tonnes of products ready for recycling, indicating strong initial demand and collection capability.

In its early stages, Rec tested its recycled materials through consumer brands such as Divine (tights and stockings) and Révélation (socks and parkas), sold at major retailers like Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. This unexpected success quickly generated approximately one million euros in funding. Rec now plans to shift its business model to focus exclusively on supplying manufacturers and brands. Several of these brands have already committed to purchasing Rec's recycled nylon, validating the market demand for sustainable materials.

Polyamide, or nylon, represents 5% of global fiber production, equating to around seven million tonnes annually, making it the second most-produced synthetic fiber after polyester. Despite this high production volume, only 2% of nylon came from recycling in 2024 due to persistent technical obstacles. Founders Laurent Trognon and Frédéric Austrui were inspired to create Rec after experiencing the challenge firsthand while developing their previous venture. Trognon recalls being told that recycling nylon was impossible, leading them to pursue their own industrial solution to address rising yarn costs and the significant waste generated by their operations.

Beyond apparel, Rec recognizes the potential for its recycled material in non-clothing applications. While polyamide is commonly used in technical sportswear, it also sees widespread use in sectors like automotive, electronics, and various industrial equipment. The Burgundy-based company has already begun securing outlets in these diverse areas, expanding its market potential beyond the textile industry.